Composition for soles for footwear.



GEORGE E. WYMAN AND ANDREW E. GUEEIER, 0E WALPOLE,.MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOES T0 CHARLES S. BIRD, OEWALPOJLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

COMPOSI'IIUN EOE SOLES EOE, EOUTWEAE.

aeeoae.

Ito Drawing.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, GEORGE E. WYMAN and ANDREW 1E. CURRIER, citizens of the United States, residing at Walpole, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Compositions for Soles for Footwear of which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to an improved composition for sole for foot-wear, and has for its main object the production of a sole of superior wearing quality, while at .the

I same time employmg as one of the main constituents thereof a product heretofore looked upon as waste, and in fact treated as such.

In the manufacture of so-called waterproof felt roofing, and particularly where the sheet material is cut up into shingle form, more or less waste obtains, and we have found that this Waste or scrap material when admixed with other ingredients and subjected to vulcanization and pressure produces a sole of superior quality.

The component ingredients may be stated in general terms to be as follows: Reclaimed rubber, waste felt roofing, and a special mixture, this last being composed of reclaimed rubber, litharge, sulfur and zinc oxid.

Thewaste roofing felt (so called in the trade) is composed largely of cotton fiber with a'smaller quantity of wool admixed therewith. This felt in the course of manufacture of the roofing material is saturated with asphaltum, and then coated with a preparation consisting approximately of 85% of asphaltum and 15% of boiled linseed oil. The oil is placed in'a kettle and carried to a temperature of 500 approximately, and maintained thereat for from ten to twenty hours, which gives it more body and imparts better enduring and wearing qualities than it would otherwise have. Felt thus produced is substantially water-repellent, and may be said to comprise a fibrous body which 1s impregnated and coated with a waterproofing substance.

The special mixture referred to is composed of the ingredients above specified, in substantially the following proportions: 35 pounds of reclaimed rubber, 2 pounds of litharge, 1 pounds of sulfur, 15 pounds of Patented Nov. 5, TATE.

Application filed. February llll, 1915. Serial No. 216,602.

zinc oxid, all of which are intimately intermixed before the mixture is compounded with the other ingredients.

An admixture which has been found to produce excellent soles is composed as follows: 25 pounds of reclaimed rubber, 10 pounds of the special mixture, 20 pounds of the waste felt or roofing material. These ingredlents, in about the proportions stated, are mixed and treated in a regular rubber mill, the rolls of the mill bringing about a thorough commingling of the rubber, the special mixture and the waste felt, the fibers of the latter maintaining their fibrous character to a greater or less extent, and becoming thoroughly mixed and incorporated in the rubber and special mixture, the final mass or product being homogeneous throughout.

The mass thus produced is placed in molds and subjected to a pressure of from 600, to 1000 pounds per square inch, and to a vulcanizing temperature of about 250 F., for a period of twenty minutes.

A sole thus produced .will hold when nailed or when sewed in place, and in addition is waterproof and durable.

While we have referred to the employment of the product for soles, it is, of course, evident that the material may be equally as well used in heels.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is: i

1. A composition of matter for shoe-soles and heels,fcontaining 'a mixture of comminutedwaste felt roofing material and a vulcanizable gum.

2. A composition of matter, for shoe-soles and heels containing a mixture of comminuted waste felt roofing impregnated with asphaltum, and. a vulcanizable mm 3.- A composition of matter fbr shoe-soles and heels containing a mixture of comminuted waste felt roofing treated with asphaltum and linseed oil, and a vulcanizable gum.

A. A composition of matter for shoe-soles and heels, containing a mixture of comminuted roofing felt initially impregnated with asphaltum and coated with an admix ture of asphaltum and boiled linseed oil; reclaimed rubber; and vulcanizing material.

5. A composition of matter for shoe-soles and heels, consisting of the following inture of comminuted waste felt roofing satugredients thoroughly admixed: comminuted rated and treated with asphaltum and boiled 10 Waste felt roofing saturated and treated with linseed oil; reclaimed rubber; litharge; sulasphaltum and boiled linseed oil; reclaimed fur; and zinc oxid.

rubber; and a mixture consisting of rubber, In testimony whereof we have signed our litharge, sulfur, and zinc oxid. names to this specification.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a-vul- GEORGE R. WYMAN.

canized shoe-sole 0r heel composed of a mix- ANDREW E. CURRIER, 

